Making a Basket


1 Ne' néwa' ëtwathyúwi' nëkayeôk ëkat'asyôni'.
We're going to tell how to make a basket.

2 Ne' ëtwötyéët ëhsyëtihsák ne' kanyö yeötakwææsös ki'shë'.
First find a white or black ash.

3 Atúkë' ehsyææ'ta'k ëhsetsíwët tuskë awôtyô katúkê niyu'hasték ëhsetsíwët nikaötés.
Use the hammer part of the ax to pound the log. Pound these laps close together the length of the log.

4 Kanyu' ëthsateyëös ëhsyëtakwaás wíyú nâ shô ëtwötkææ' tëwötekhahsi' khu.
When you pound it right, the splints will peel and come apart.

5 Ta unë ne' úwë'kææ' ëhsatesyönyánô' kakanya'shæ' ëhsyææ'ta'k ëhsawíyus tetsaökwá nö'wôti úwë'kææ'.
Then take the splints and smooth them with a knife on both sides.

6 Ta unë tëhswë'kæænethahsi'.
Then take the splints apart.

7 Ëhsestya'k ne kë'tôwë' ne ka'ashæ'.
Cut them up into the size for the basket bottom.

8 Tekní skaé' níyô sha'tewatakwëhtëôk tyuhtô níyô sha'tewatakëhtö's.
Take twelve broad strips by nine strips and weave the bottom and base of the basket.

9 Ëhsestya'k niwatakwëhtasyöök'aa ëwöthwatase'töôk ne kë'tôwë'.
Cut up narrow strips to work around the bottom of the basket.

10 Ëhsathwatáse' ne' ësyææ'ta'k niwatakwëhta's'aa niyúwe' si nö'téyô sehesöôk.
Weave enough strips to make the basket as deep as you want it.

11 Kanyu' ëhsates'á' nö'téyô sehés ëhsnö'skeutút níyô néwa' ti ëthsuwæku'hae', ta unë tëthsekwathu'.
When you have it as high as you want it, cut a little notch on each standing splint, trim them off, bend back and tuck inside.

12 Ta unë tëhsata'ënöë' usthô ëkatësöôk tsyukæækás ökye astékwá khu.
Bind the inside and outside with thicker hickory.

13 Ta unë ëhsathwatáse' kakwékö ëkayénô' niwatakwëhta'aa.
Then bind all together all around with a narrow strip.

14 Tsyukæækás kasyönya'tö' ne atáshæ.
The handle is made of hickory.


Glossary


(1) Ne' néwa' ëtwathyúwi' nëkayeôk ëkat'asyôni'.

ne' -- [particle]
néwa' -- now, this time
ëtwathyúwi' -- we will tell about it
ë- Future prefix, -tw- IpA/A prefix, -athyuwi- tell about something [Simple]
nëkayeôk -- how it will be done
në- Partitive + Future prefixes, -ka- NsA/C prefix, -ye- do something [K-Stative] Note that this appears to be a "Neuter Passive" construction.
ëkat'asyôni' -- I will make (myself?) a basket
ë- Future prefix, -k- 1sA/A prefix, -at- Middle prefix, -'ash- basket, -öny- make something [Simple]. Note the change of /sh/ to /sy/ before /ö/

(2) Ne' ëtwötyéët ëhsyëtihsák ne' kanyö yeötakwâsös ki'shë'.

ne' -- [particle]
ëtwötyéët -- it will be first
ë- Future prefix, -tw- IpA/A prefix, -atyeëht- be first, primary [Simple]. Note the exceptional change of the /a/ at the beginning of the verb base into a /ö/.
ëhsyëtihsák -- you will look for wood
ë- Future prefix, -hs- 2sA/C prefix, -yët- wood, -ihsak- look for something [Simple].
ne' -- [particle]
kanyö -- white ash tree
yeötakwææsös -- black ash tree
ye- FsA/C prefix, -yöt- wood, -a- Linker Vowel, -kwææs- pound wood [Habitual]. Literally people pound the wood Note that the initial /y/ of the incorporated noun base -yöt- is weak, and so is dropped out between two vowels.
ki'shë' -- perhaps, maybe

(3) Atúkë' ehsyææ'ta'k ëhsetsíwët tuskë awôtyô katúkê niyu'hasték ëhsetsíwët nikaötés.

atúkë' -- ax
ehsyææ'ta'k -- you will be using it
(ë-)??? Future Prefix???, -hs- 2sA/C prefix, -yææ't- use something [Irregular K-Stative??]
ëhsetsíwët -- you will hammer
ë- Future prefix, -hse- 2sA/X prefix, -tsíw- hammer, -a's+ëht- drop something [Simple]
tuskë -- near, nearby
awôtyô -- it is thrown open
aw- NsP/Ö, -öty- throw something away [Stative]. This word refers to the way in which the splints peel off the log as you hit it with the ax. Note that the /w/ of the Pronominal prefix seems to be an idiolectal variant.
katúkê -- exactly
ka- NsA/C prefix, -tukë- be straight, exact [Stative]
niyu'hasték -- how strong it will be??
ni- Partitive prefix, -yu- NsP/X prefix, -'hast- be strong [K-Stative??]. Note that we would expect some type of Modal prefix here, which is apparently missing.
ëhsetsíwët -- you will hammer
ë- Future prefix, -hse- 2sA/X prefix, -tsíw- hammer, -a's+ëht- drop something [Simple]
nikaötés -- the length of the log
ni- Partitive prefix, -ka- NsA/C prefix, -höt- log, -es- be long [Stative]. Note that the initial /h/ of the incorporated noun root -höt- is weak, and so is dropped when it occurs between two vowels.

(4) Kanyu' ëthsateyëös ëhsyëtakwaás wíyú nâ shô ëtwötkææ' tëwötekhahsi' khu.

kanyu' -- when
ëthsateyëös -- you will know how for yourself
ët- Future + Cislocative prefixes, -hs- 2sA/A prefix, -ate- Middle prefix, -yë- know, -ös- Dative suffix [Simple]
ëhsyëtakwaás -- you will pound the wood
ë- Future prefix, -hs- 2sA/C prefix, -yët- wood, -a- Linker Vowel, -kwææs- pound wood [Simple]
wíyú -- it is good
w- NsA/I prefix, -iyu- be good [Stative]
-- [particle]
shô -- just, only
ëtwötkææ' -- it will come apart
ët- Future + Cislocative prefixes, -w- NsA/A prefix, t...atkææ'w- something comes apart [Simple]. Note again the exceptional change of /a/ at the beginning of the verb base into /ö/.
tëwötekhahsi' -- it will separate out into several pieces
të- Dualic + Future prefixes, -w- NsA/A prefix, te...atekhahs- something splits apart into several pieces [Simple]. Note the regular change of the /a/ at the beginning of the verb base into /ö/.
khu -- and, too, also, as well

(5) Ta unë ne' úwë'kææ' ëhsatesyönyánô' kakanya'shæ' ëhsyææ'ta'k ëhsawíyus tetsaökwá nö'wôti úwë'kâ'.

ta unë -- so now, and then
ne' -- [particle]
úwë'kææ' -- wood splint
ú NsP/L prefix, -wë'kæ- wood splint, -æ- Linker Vowel, -' Noun Suffix
ëhsatesyönyánô' -- you will get your things all ready
ë- Future prefix, -hs- 2sA/A prefix, -atesyönyánö- get your things ready [Simple]
kakanya'shæ' -- knife
ka- NsA/X prefix, -kanya'sh- knife, -æ- Linker Vowel, -' Noun Suffix
ehsyææ'ta'k -- you will be using it
(ë-)??? Future Prefix???, -hs- 2sA/C prefix, -yææ't- use something [Irregular K-Stative??]
ëhsawíyus -- you will make it good, smooth
ë- Future prefix, -hs- 2sA/A prefix, -awiyust- make something good, smooth [Simple]
tetsaökwá -- on both
testsaö both, -kwá [suffix]
nö'wôti -- which side
nö'- Partitive + Factual prefixes, -w- NsA prefix, -ati- be a side [Simple]
úwë'kææ' -- wood splint
ú NsP/L prefix, -wë'kæ- wood splint, -æ- Linker Vowel, -' Noun Suffix

(6) Ta unë tëhswë'kæænethahsi'.

ta unë -- so now, and then
tëhswë'kæænethahsi' -- you will take the wood splints apart
të- Dualic + Future prefixes, -hs- 2sA/C prefix -wë'kæ- wood splint, -æ- Linker Vowel, te...+nethahs- take something apart into pieces [Simple]

(7) Ëhsestya'k ne kë'tôwë' ne ka'ashæ'.

ëhsestya'k -- you will cut it up into pieces?
ë- Future prefix, -hse- 2sA/X prefix, -stya'k- cut something up into pieces? [Simple]
ne -- [particle]
kë'tôwë' -- bottom, base
k[ë-] NsA/I prefix, -i'töw- bottom, base, -ë- Linker Vowel, -' Noun Suffix
ne -- [particle]
ka'ashæ' -- basket
ka- NsA/X prefix, -'ash- basket, -æ- Linker Vowel, -' Noun Suffix

(8) Tekní skaé' níyô sha'tewatakwëhtëôk tyuhtô níyô sha'tewatakëhtö's.

tekní skaé' -- twelve (12)
níyô -- that many, that amount
ni- Partitive prefix, -y- NsA/Ö prefix, -ö- be a certain amount, quantity [Stative]
sha'tewatakwëhtëôk -- they are flat together
sha'te- Coincident + Dualic prefixes, -w- NsA/A prefix, te...atakwëhtë- lay something out flat [K-Stative]. Note again the use of the K-Stative stem without a corresponding Modal prefix.
tyuhtô -- nine (9)
níyô -- that many, that amount
ni- Partitive prefix, -y- NsA/Ö prefix, -ö- be a certain amount, quantity [Stative]
sha'tewatakëhtö's -- they are layed out flat together???
sha'te- Coincident + Dualic prefixes, -w- NsA/A prefix, -atakwëhtö'- lay something out flat??? [Habitual???]. Apparently there is a /w/ missing from this form.

(9) Ëhsestya'k niwatakwëhtasyöök'aa ëwöthwatase'töôk ne kë'tôwë'.

ëhsestya'k -- you will cut it up into pieces?
ë- Future prefix, -hse- 2sA/X prefix, -stya'k- cut something up into pieces? [Simple]
niwatakwëhtasyöök'aa -- it is in narrow strips ??
ni- Partitive prefix, -w- NsA/A prefix, -at- Middle prefix, -akwëht- be wide, -a- Linker Vowel, -syö- Distributive suffix == -atakwëhtasyö- various things be wide??? [K-Stative???], ni...'aa be small [Stative]. Very Strange Word.
ëwöthwatase'töôk -- you will be wrapping it around something
ë- Future prefix, -w- NsA/A prefix, -athwatase't- turn, wrap something around something else [K-Stative]. Note the expected change of /a/ at the beginning of the verb base into /ö/.
ne -- [particle]
kë'tôwë' -- bottom, base
k[ë-] NsA/I prefix, -i'töw- bottom, base, -ë- Linker Vowel, -' Noun Suffix

(10) Ëhsathwatáse' ne' ësyææ'ta'k niwatakwëhta's'aa niyúwe' si nö'téyô sehesöôk.

ëhsathwatáse' -- you will go around
ë- Future prefix, -hs- 2sA/A prefix, -athwatase- go around [Simple]
ne' -- [particle]
ehsyææ'ta'k -- you will be using it
(ë-)??? Future Prefix???, -hs- 2sA/C prefix, -yææ't- use something [Irregular K-Stative??]
niwatakwëhta's'aa -- they are narrow
ni- Partitive prefix, -w- NsA/A prefix, ni...atakwëhta's'aa several things be narrow [Stative]
niyúwe' -- how far, how deep
ni- Partitive prefix, -yu- NsP/C prefix, -w- be a ceratin distance, depth [Stative]
si -- other, elsewhere???
nö'téyô -- how many of those???
nö'te- Partitive + Dualic prefixes, -y- NsA/Ö prefix, -ö- be a certain amount [Stative]
sehesöôk -- you are wanting it????

(11) Kanyu' ëhsates'á' nö'téyô sehés ëhsnö'skeutút níyô néwa' ti ëthsuwæku'hae', ta unë tëthsekwathu'.

kanyu' -- when
ëhsates'á' -- you will be prepared
ë- Future prefix, -hs- 2sA/a prefix, -ates'a- prepare yourself [Simple]
nö'téyô -- how many of those???
nö'te- Partitive + Dualic prefixes, -y- NsA/Ö prefix, -ö- be a certain amount [Stative]
sehés -- you want
ëhsnö'skeutút -- ???
níyô -- that many, that amount
ni- Partitive prefix, -y- NsA/Ö prefix, -ö- be a certain amount, quantity [Stative]
néwa' -- now, this time
ti -- [particle]
ëthsuwæku'hae' -- ???
ta unë -- and then
tëthsekwathu' -- you will bend, fold it back in??
tët- Dualic + Future + Cislocative prefixes, -hse- 2sA/X prefix, +kwathw- bend, fold something [Simple]

(12) Ta unë tëhsata'ënöë' usthöö ëkatësöôk tsyukæækás ökye astékwá khu.

ta unë -- and then
tëhsata'ënöë' -- you will hem the top of the basket
të- Dualic + Future prefixes, -hs- 2sA/A prefixes, -at- Middle prefix, -a'ën- pole, bow, -ö- Linker Vowel, -he- put something on somethingelse [Simple]. Note that the /h/ at the beginning of the verb base is weak, and so is dropped when it comes between two vowels.
usthöö -- a little, some, somewhat, not much
u- NsP/X prefix, -sthö- be little, few, not much [Stative]
ëkatësöôk -- it will be thicker
ë- Future prefix, -ka- NsA/C prefix, -tës- something be thick [Irregular K-Stative]
tsyukæækás -- hickory
ökye -- inside, on the inside
astékwá -- outside, on the outside
aste outside, -kwá Directional clitic
khu -- and, too, also, as well

(13) Ta unë ëhsathwatáse' kakwékö ëkayénô' niwatakwëhta'aa.

ta unë -- and now, so then
ëhsathwatáse' -- you will wrap it around it??
ë- Future prefix, -hs- 2sA/A prefix, -athwatase- go around [Simple]
kakwékö -- all, everything
ka- NsA/X prefix, -kwek- be all, every [Stative]
ëkayénô' -- it will grab it
ë- Future prefix, -ka- NsA/C prefix, -yenö- grab, catch something [Simple]
niwatakwëhta'aa -- it is narrow
ni- Partitive prefix, -w- NsA/A prefix, ni...atakwëhta'aa something be narrow [Stative]

(14) Tsyukæækás kasyönya'tö' ne atáshæ.

tsyukæækás -- hickory
kasyönya'tö -- it is made out of it
ka- NsA/X prefix, -syönya't- make something out of something [Stative]
ne -- [particle]
atáshæ' -- handle
atash- handle, Linker Vowel, -' Noun Suffix. Note that there is a somewhat different form of this word, atashææ' [WC:133]

Author: Kathryn Jameson, Allegany. 1974
Recorded and Transcribed by: [TM]
Glossary by: [JL:4/96]